Regency Village Theatre
961 Broxton Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
961 Broxton Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
86 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 483 comments
Rather amazing that they seem to have gotten out of the customary 2-week contracts on CHRONICLE and STAR WARS (neither is slated to move to the Bruin, which is getting JOURNEY 2).
With the Avco temporarily closed Regency has been having short 1 and 2 week bookings for the Village. They have CHRONICLE (this Fri) STAR WARS PHANTOM MENACE 3D Re-issue (2/10) and GHOST RIDER 2 (2/17). With more product available they do not have to keep films longer than they should.
Westwood is not a theatre district any longer. But there is no reason to try to turn them into little cafes. Now with the Crest gone and the Avco closing Regency will be able to book more freely and keep the films flowing. It will not be 1980’s capacity but they will not be stuck with films that do not fi the theatre. Westwood will become like Los Feliz with the Village, Bruin and Regent. At this point doubtful a new complex with be errected. I think everyone has resigned themselves to the fact Westwood will not have a big resurgence. I’m pretty sure Regency did not take over the screens expecting anything spactacular.
Comparing movies theatres to amusement parks is like comparing apples to legumes. Both of the latter provide sustenance, but that’s about where the comparisons end.
An amusement park does not soly rely on product produced outside the environment on a daily basis in order to entertain its guests, nor does the amusement park need to hand over up to 90% of its revenue with the producer of said outside entertainment provider. The amusement park may entertain, but it entertains in a quite different way than a movie theatre, and that’s where the comparisons end.
Ask yourself this… why does the Landmark just one mile down the road often do 8-10x the business with the same movie as the Village? The Landmark does not offer season passes nor free wi-fi, and their ticket prices and snack bar items are more expensive than the Village. It’s because there is no one single factor that makes people change their habits.
We are cinephiles, and we care about the overall presentation. Most people don’t. They don’t care about the history of the place they are going to. They don’t care about what’s available at the snack bar. They don’t care if it’s a massive auditorium with a 60' screen and THX-approved sound and picture, or if it’s a thirty seat house with a 10' screen and sofas instead of seats. They don’t care if there is a wine bar. They don’t even really care if you have to pay for parking. All they want is a clean place to see a movie that has other things to do before or after the movie, in a convenient setting. Westwood isn’t all that convenient for most anymore, while the Westside Pavilion is. And that’s what makes all the difference in the world.
On 11/17 caught the 10:30PM showing of J Edgar. Only eight of us in the audience. If I ran the Village and Bruin I would do the following: 1) Sell a $59 annual movie pass with photo that would allow the holder to see movies for $5 and bring in as many companions for $7; also, the smart card would allow the passholder to see a movie a second, third, etc. time for $2 a pop(FYI: I saw “2010’s LA MISSION 14 times).
There could also be a family pass with similar savings. The concession stand choices would be upgraded and prices lowered. Free wi-fi would be offered and small tables and sitting areas sprinkled throughout the lobby and one could install a glass partition in the upper balcony and put more tables up there.
Venues like Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm understand one has to bring in people. The Village has about 1400 seats to fill. Raising an average screening number from say 30 to 100 or more much more will more than increase gross receipts. If the Vista and Los Feliz can run $5.50 senior rates and $6.50 for everybody before 6PM, there’s no reason the Village/Bruin couldn’t offer reduced rates.
The Vista and Los Feliz are showing all the brand new movies currently as the Hollywood Arclight and at a fraction of the cost.
Cinema is not dead. Just look at the weekly box office grosses. Films are still opening to $50m weekends. Granted ticket prices are higher but people still like going to the movies. What’s dead is cinema in Westwood. Parking sucks and college kids would rather party on weekends than see a movie.
Last time I was at the Village this past Summer I thought the sound was still top notch.
They seem to do well enough with event films like Harry Potter, Inception etc. But obviously The Three Musketeers is not pulling them in. But you can probably find not very many people seeing Musketeers at the AMC Century City either. If a film is bad people will not go to a theatre to see it anywhere.
Regency pretty much went into the leases knowing they were not going to re-create 1981. It seems like a prestige thing with them, they have lots of premieres and pretty much the success of the other theatres in the chain make up for these theatres not really raking in the green. NO WAY should they turn the Village into a bargain theatre. We all should go to these theatres whenever we can. I’ll go see J. EDGAR at the Village in a few weeks.
If the Avco closes and WW ends up with only the Village, Bruin and Regent it will turn into Los Feliz pretty much. They will have pick of films and will probably have short 2 week engagements and will keep the flow going. Westwood is really not a theatre district anymore. But they can still show movies.
I don’t get to the Village or Bruin often these days but it seems those those theaters are empty even on opening nights and weekends for big releases. Do they still pull in crowds? I never see them, but maybe i’m just not there enough to witness it. Westwood still has lots of foot traffic and students but nobody goes to see movies anymore. Cinema is dead, it’s been dead for 20 years or more in all honesty. What’s left of the single houses are just sputtering along. I just wish Regency had reduced the ticket price to $3 at all of it’s theaters, the Village ain’t what it used to be for screen & sound.
I found this on youtube and thought it pretty cool. it’s home movie footage of Robert Redford up in the tower portion of the Village Fox: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=g-ebrsdhqvg
I believe Roddy McDowall shot this home movie footage. What they’re doing up there, I have no idea.
I love the new photos. Quite a few are from when I worked there. Altered States, Firefox.
Regency comes off very conservative so it would not surprise me.
The Village Theater used to play double features in the early 70’s…does anyone remember Mike Shaw…The projectionist at the Village Theater for 25 years…current owners are extremely homophobic
I only like going to see films during the day. But I can see where people do not like going to Westwood to see films. It is such an ordeal. I’ll support the Village and Bruin and will deal with it.
It’s only expensive if you go during the day. $3 to park after 6 p.m.
Just returned from 1:30 Super 8 showing at the Village. Westwood was crazy, sooooo many people there for UCLA graduation. There were probably about 30 people for first matinee. Sadly 30 years ago this type of film would have probably had about 500. The presentation was still top notch and Regency is keeping the theatre beautiful. It is really an ordeal going to Westwood; parking still sucks. It actually costs me more going there than Arclight Hollywood. Next time I will take a bus. It remains my favorite theatre and I will continue to patronize it, but Westwood is really, really sad.
I will see Super 8 here either this Saturday or the following. Regency has done a fantastic job operating the theatre. They probably are not making a killing with it, but I appreciate them showing the love and care it deserves. Overall Regency must be doing well, the keep acquiring leases and are even doing renovations of theatres. The Village and Bruin are strictly prestige leases and like I said, they are showing the love for them.
We were seated in the balcony for the opening of “The Lord Of The Rings” #2. A full house cheered, whistled and rose to applauded their approval of the magnificent opening audio test. I cannot ever recall being surrounded by such enthusiastic applause -It was deafening and memorable to say the least!
I was wondering the same about the Village and 3D. It would be nice if they showed HARRY POTTER in 2D, 3D will probably NOT enhance the film.
They have not posted Bruin yet, but going with the Warner bookings that make up most of what shows at the 2 theatres I would guess GREEN LANTERN (WB) in 3D June 17, HORRIBLE BOSSES (NL/Warner) July 8 and CRAZY STUPID LOVE (WB) July 29.
Do the Village and Bruin now have a silver screens?
Mark, what I meant was move it on a permanent basis. It would make more sense to be in the Village, given I’m sure there are 3D premieres they’d want there.
The Village used to have a digital projector with REAL D in the Mann days. Last movie to be seen that way, IIRC, was “The Final Destination.”
Can they just move a 3D projector theatre to theatre?
Bet they can’t wait to get rid of “Arthur”. I hope that film helps put the brakes on lame remakes of great movies.
It is listed as Harry Potter 3D… wonder if that means they’ll be installing a new digital projector in the Village, or maybe moving the Bruin’s.
REGENCY website already has posted early Summer bookings for Village on the website.
5/26 HANGOVER 2
6/8 SUPER 8
7/15 HARRY POTTER AND DEATHLY HOLLOWS PART 2
On Regency’s Facebook page, they have posted some nice pictures for the Premiere this week at the Village of NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
Haines: I assume you are a guild member who rarely pays for his own tickets. In 2010 I spent around $1500 for 200 paid movie admissions, including 10 at the Village, 6 at the Bruin, 11 at the Crest, 5 at the Regent, 12 at the Billy Wilder and 2 at the AVCO.
Most guild members expect freebies and do not take money out of their own pockets to support their own industry. About 10 days ago I was at the Hollywood Arclight. A lady with a guild pass was complaining that she had to walk an extra 20 feet to validate her parking: “I’ve been coming here for years and this is the first time I’ve had this problem.” (What problem lady? Your ticket and parking were comped).